I've Been Thinking

I saw a picture that today that really got to me - it was a picture of a starving African child crawling on hands and knees to a feeding station. It upset me.
We talked in class today about why no one in the international community is responding to the crisis in Darfur. It upset me.

We talked about the issues of state sovereignty and the wording of the genocide convention - about how the "intent" to commit genocide must be proved before the international community can act to stop the killing. It upset me.

I have come to two conclusions: First, is the fact that we have to begin to think outside the box on some of these horribly difficult issues we face today. Just think where we would be without the creative thinking of the Founding Fathers of the USA. Look at the radical theories of Milton Friedman, Jeffrey Sachs and "shock therapy for struggling economies." Look at what Lech Walesa did in Poland - he was an electrician who changed the entire face of Polish politics by thinking outside the box and coming up with a plan.

Maybe the solution in Darfur will be to encourage China (a country who has a lot vested in Sudan) to take the lead on this one. Maybe we need to stop looking at all the regular places and things for a solution.

Please, before you label me a fool and naive, let me assure you that I am well aware of the issues that faced the Poles after (and during) the solidarity movement.

My second conclusion is this: We, as the residents of this great international, diverse community must create the political will to affect change. We must be the ones who make the decisions on how we are going to handle situations like the one in Darfur. We must be the voices for those who don't have voices. It is up to us! Stop giving it to someone else - stop looking for excuses on why you shouldn't care.

Someone today was remimding me of the horrors in Kosovo - talking about how we were inundated with pictures streaming out of Kosovo - all the children and old men - if even that - every day we saw those images streaming across the television, newspapers. Yet, how many days go by and we don't see those pictures in front of us regarding Darfur? Let's face it, the crisis in Darfur is far from sexy and yes, it has been going on for a hell of a long time. Yet, we continue to allow our governments, our free presses to do nothing. It upsets me.

See, maybe I'm an idealist but I am going to continue to force myself to think outside the box, to help create a will within my own community, my friends and family, my classmates that we have the right to create the political will to stop this madness.

Things I Know

Things I Know
I'm tired of narrow minded, self aggrandizing (but I only do it for myself bs) people. Those people that think they are better than others, start things and then refuse to listen to both sides of an argument! Go away!

Getting a trademark only means that a coffee grower has to be paid an additional "trademark" fee for someone to buy their coffee beans - it doesn't guarantee coffee prices, only the world wide market does that. I'm not sure if that amount is equivalent to the money that some companies freely give to communities for development purposes (on top of the bonus prices they pay for beans).

The French figured out that they really didn't want as many restrictions as they thought they did on the agriculture based products they produce because it may mean that they may lose their income for that product totally.

I still support Starbucks - I still believe they do better in this world than a lot of other companies - I am glad that they are engaged at all.

I love being busy - this week has been great.

The KSU Geography Club is a reality - I wrote the constitution, presented the club to the Student and Administrative Board yesterday and we were recognized as a new registered student organization. We are going to work on projects that involve developing countries and economic development - particularly for women.

Yesterday I joined a student group - STAND - Students Taking Action Now Darfur.

Yesterday, because I was in the STAND meeting and someone asked me why I was there - ONE, I was asked to help develop a community service project, with ONE type goals, for 25 freshmen in a community learning setting!!!!!!! Oh, just consider the possibilities - hands on, students held captive (hostage is okay too). Just think of what can be accomplished!

Today I worked the Geography Awareness Week table in the student center - learning projects and working with others who want to make a difference in the world, make me happy.

Today I saw the film made by the college students from Southern California - Invisible Children. Hug your babies and be damned glad that you weren't born in Uganda! Remind yourself just how fucking lucky you are to have been born in this country or, at least remind yourself just how fucking lucky you are to live in this country! If you have other feelings, get over yourself.

Today after the film, the professor who sponsored it, told the kids in the class who I was, why I was there (as a representative from ONE) and a student, and a founding member of STAND at KSU and, if they were interested in learning more about the activities I was involved with, she would get them in touch with me!!!!!

We talked about the importance of the shift in development policies from just handing money to governments (corrupt or not) over the last 20 years from the first Live Aid event to the current model and preference for people in developing countries to be an integral part of the development process from the bottom up!

I know I am lucky, the more people I meet, the more opportunities I have to let people know they have choices in how to respond to the global emergencies we face today. This is all happening to me for a reason. Yes, it's a lot of work. No, I don't get paid for it. Yes, this is happening to me for a reason - it's where I should be!

Nancy

P.S. Thanksgiving next week - everyone will be coming here. That means movies (Bond and Borat), laughs, walks - family comforts. And, everytime I am able to hug and love my babies, my husband and my mom - I will remember how lucky I am.

Three weeks of school before finals - too much to do.

nbb

Joe's Birthday

Today is Joe's birthday. He is 20. I remember very vividly the day Joe was born. He was 7 lbs 2 ozs, snuggly and sweet. This is one spectacular young man. Joe has always been Joe. If you knew him, you would know what I mean. He's steady, incredibly funny, incredibly smart. He is perceptive and frequently knew when I was upset with him before I even said anything. He refused to date beautiful stupid women in high school. Took a blow up doll to junior prom and his favorite "real" girl to senior prom. His friends have been his friends for a lifetime - he really values them - they will always be his friends. Joe went to college two years ago - I knew when he left that he would really never come home. Thankfully (and sadly), I'm right. He is happy at school, has good friends, is in a fraternity with people he respects, has goals for his life and dates smart beautiful women. He is active in theatre - doing a play right now - I have always admired his professional take on theatre - he works like a dog - every night for the past few weeks from 7-11 at night. I know he gets tired but he would never say anything. When he was younger, he and his friend Conrad would make movies - they would pretend they were men from Mexico complete with big sombreros and serapes, they would make movies of Conrad in a box in the middle of the street with a sign on it that said Conrad was naked inside the box, they would do strange interviews with people. I would go to the movies with Joe and feel like we had watched an entirely different movie. He would always ask me what my favorite part was and I would just look at him as he recited specific lines from the movie, told me about certain camera angles. Joe was in a Professional play at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre when he was about 11 or 12. Joe had to attend rehearsals at all weird hours of the night - he was the only kid in the show. I probably saw that show about 5 times...Joe's part came at the end - I could barely contain my excitement when he came out on stage! I'm glad he has been a part of my life for 20 years. He has definitely made me a better person!

Thanks Joe!

Love you.

Get Over It

So, I finally got over the dishes incident. It seems, at least for the last few days (hopefully for the next few days), that we have finally reached an agreeable rhythm for this time in our lives.

I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers last week with my son and two of his friends. We had seats on the floor - I learned something, again, even though I have been going to rock concerts my entire life - short people should not get floor tickets unless they are in the first five rows. I had to work to see the right side of the stage...so, as a result, I was completely mesmerized by Flea. I have never seen anyone play bass or move the way he does. It was amazing - like I said mesmerized.

Today I am going to be a volunteer at Heifer International. This year, my adult birthday and Christmas gifts will be Heifer animals. They are an awesome group - the work they do is based on education and sustainability - it doesn't get any better than that.

Tomorrow is a working lunch with ONE - we are working on our November 11 event and the December 2 event. November 11 is Microcredit. December 2 is movie night - The Girl in the Cafe - based around the G8 occurrence in Scotland, I think.

I am also six weeks away from the end of the semester. Yeah! But that means finals, research paper, other papers, power point presentations, Thanksgiving and my family.

Must run and send more e-mails before I take the doggie out for her morning sniff and pee.

Nancy